Speed Racer wins again!
Go Speed! Go!
What is the best fantasy world out there? I really had to think about this one. Was it Star Trek? I’ve seen every episode of the original with Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock; Every episode of Next Generation with Captain Picard; and every episode of Voyager with Captain Janeway and 7 of 9. (Va-Va-Voom! I’m sure 7 has sparked more than a few fantasies.)
I've seen the movies and enough of the other Star Trek franchises to know too much of a good thing is actually a bad thing. Star Trek is a wonderful fantasy world but not the best.
How about Star Wars? Battlestar Galactica? Dune? World of Warcraft? Bewitched? The Beverly Hillbillies? Maybe Gilligan’s Island? Who wouldn’t want to be marooned on a tropical island with that cast of characters?
No, after careful consideration, I’ll ride with… drum roll, please… Speed Racer. Speed Racer, the original cartoon version, had it all. There was action-adventure in exotic locations; A handsome young hero with his loyal and beautiful girlfriend; The no-nonsense father, mischievous little brother with a pet chimp, mysterious older brother, complete cast of villains, and of course, the Mach Five.
Speed Racer sprang to life in the mid 1960's as a Japanese comic serial originally titled Mach GoGoGo. In 1967 it made the jump to TV as a Japanese anime series with 52 episodes. It aired in the USA on ABC at about the same time after editing and English dubbing to suit American audiences.
The creator, Tatsuo Yoshida, was inspired by two American films that were very popular in Japan at the time: Viva Las Vegas starring a race car driving Elvis Presley and the beautiful Ann-Margret. The character Speed Racer, Gō Mifune by his Japanese name, was modeled based on Elvis, complete with neckerchief and black pompadour hair.
The second part of the inspiration came from the James Bond movie Goldfinger, starring Sean Connery driving his gadget-filled Aston Martin DB5 automobile. Speed's car, the Mach 5, was created with the Bond car fresh in mind.
In the series Speed was always the clean-cut Good Guy, although some have questioned if he may have been a bit of a sociopath since he had no problem with bumping evil-doers off the road and over cliff edges. Rest assured that those villains had it coming. When you're racing against 16 car teams led by drivers named Captain Terror and Snake Oiler, it's pretty much anything goes racing.
In Speed's darkest moment where doom seemed certain, you could almost always count on the mysterious Racer-X to intervene and save the day. Racer-X was actually Speed's self-exiled older brother, Rex Racer, in disguise. Rex disappeared after crashing a car built by his father, Pops Racer. Pops berated him and Rex vanished in shame, vowing to become the world's greatest race car driver without the help of his father.
What more of a fantasy world could you ask for? We have Elvis and Ann-Margret caricatures racing around in James Bond's car. We have obvious villains and mysterious guardians. We have high speed, death defying racing, supported by a wholesome family nucleus. All aimed at entertaining children in their formative years. Go Speed! Go!
The Speed Racer franchise has survived and thrived for over 50 years. There's been a 2008 self-titled movie; DVD releases; a daily New York Post comic strip; several spin-off cartoons; cartoon remakes; comic books; video game features; action figure toys; hot wheels cars; even a Lego set and a Volkswagen commercial.
Also consider that Speed Racer has crossed multiple cultural barriers and has done so since the 1960’s. It’s popular Japanese anime, inspired by American movies, that’s been hugely successful in American culture and has Spanish language comics in Argentina and Brazil. Add in the European automaker selecting it for usage in an advertising commercial and there is no denying Speed Racer is the greatest fantasy world ever created.
The beauty of it all is that most of you never really noticed or realized it. That subtle longevity is what true great fantasy is all about.
About the Creator
Keep reading
More stories from Joseph Duncan and writers in Geeks and other communities.
Book Review: "Human Monsters: A Horror Anthology" by Various Authors
Yes, it's horror again. I'm feeling kind of down and whenever I'm down I read horror because it makes me feel better. Have you heard about that study that states people who are in depression should watch and read horror in order to make themselves feel better? Yeah, I checked it out some time ago - you should too. Human Monsters is exactly what you think it is, it is about monsters who are human - those who lurk in the normal world, not in the shadows, not in the darkness - they stand right in front of us. They are us. Let's go through my favourite stories in the anthology...
By Annie Kapur22 days ago in Geeks
Federal Reinforcements and Rising Tension in Minneapolis
Tension in Minneapolis has risen sharply in recent days as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced plans to deploy hundreds more immigration officers to Minnesota following the fatal shooting of a local woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent. The move comes amid nationwide protests and deepening polarization over federal immigration enforcement efforts. The decision to send additional officers was publicly confirmed by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who said the reinforcements are meant to “ensure the safety” of ICE and Border Patrol personnel already in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area. Officials noted that more than 2,000 federal officers have already been stationed in the region as part of what the administration describes as its largest immigration enforcement operation ever. What Sparked the Deployment? The deployment follows the Jan. 7 fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good by an ICE officer during an enforcement action in south Minneapolis. Good, a mother of three, was struck and killed by gunfire as she sat in her vehicle. Federal authorities have characterized the incident as a defensive action, saying the driver’s conduct endangered officers. However, local political leaders and community members strongly dispute that narrative. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and other officials have criticized federal accounts of what happened, pointing to bystander videos that they say contradict the claim that Good posed an active threat when she was shot. They have also condemned the broader federal immigration operation in the city, saying it has fostered fear and mistrust in local communities. The legal and investigative aftermath remains complicated. Minnesota authorities sought to investigate the shooting, but federal officials asserted exclusive jurisdiction, citing constitutional protections for federal officers. This has deepened frustration among state leaders who want greater transparency and local involvement in the inquiry. Protests and Public Reaction The shooting ignited protests in Minneapolis almost immediately and spurred demonstrations across the country. Over the weekend following the incident, more than 1,000 rallies were organized in cities nationwide, drawing tens of thousands of participants. Protesters have framed their actions as a call for accountability and change in how immigration policy is enforced. In Minneapolis, large crowds gathered near the site where Good was killed to march and call for an end to what they see as an aggressive federal presence. Many protesters have chanted slogans critical of ICE and the broader administration’s immigration agenda. Scenes from protests have been varied. In some locations, demonstrators have remained peaceful, holding signs and vigils in memory of Good. In others, confrontations between some protesters and law enforcement have occurred, with reports of officers deploying crowd control tactics. Supporters of the federal response argue that a strong enforcement posture is necessary to uphold U.S. immigration laws and to address alleged crime tied to illegal immigration. DHS officials also stressed that the officers being sent to Minnesota are there to protect their federal personnel and keep operations running despite protests. The Broader Context of Immigration Enforcement This episode is part of a much larger national debate over immigration policy and enforcement tactics. The Trump administration’s recent focus on interior enforcement — including deportations and raids — has been a defining pillar of its second term. Minneapolis, a city with a diverse population and sizable immigrant communities, has become a focal point for that strategy. Critics say that such heavy federal deployment in city neighborhoods undermines community trust and disproportionately affects non-violent immigrants and long-standing residents. Advocates for immigrant rights argue that punitive tactics fuel fear, discourage cooperation with local authorities, and erode civil liberties. Supporters counter that rigorous enforcement is essential for national security and upholding the rule of law. They argue that federal agents must be backed by sufficient resources, especially when facing hostile demonstrations or resistance. Voices from Minneapolis Local sentiment in Minneapolis remains deeply divided. Many residents expressed grief and shock over the death of Renee Good, while also expressing concern about the scale and nature of the federal response. A number of community members have organized vigils, public gatherings, and faith-based services to provide mutual support and to call for justice. Conversely, Minneapolis leaders have urged calm while also criticizing federal policies they claim escalate tensions. Mayor Frey has been vocal in his rejection of the federal narrative, insisting that the city deserves transparency and a fair process to understand what led to Good’s death. Looking Ahead As hundreds more immigration officers make their way to Minneapolis, the city and the nation find themselves at a critical juncture in the ongoing debate about immigration enforcement. The coming days will likely see continued protests, political clashes, and legal challenges as both sides defend their interpretations of events and advocate for their visions of public safety and justice. For now, Minneapolis stands on edge — a city caught between federal authority and local calls for accountability, grieving a woman’s death, and questioning how far immigration enforcement can go before it deepens divisions even further.
By Saboor Brohi 2 days ago in Geeks
Bruce Lee and The God of War: Kuan Ti
It starts with love.. The Power to the God Of War and Wealth Walk into a Chinese restaurant (even in Oklahoma, USA), a Chinese police station, a kung fu martial arts studio or even a Chinese temple and you often see a red faced warrior holding a heavy quan-do (spear like weapon).
By WILD WAYNE : The Dragon King7 days ago in Chapters
Comments
There are no comments for this story
Be the first to respond and start the conversation.